Prior to her solo success, this R&B icon found her voice leading groups. Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles nailed the girl-group sound on 1963's “Decatur Street” before evolving into LaBelle, a group that struck disco-era gold with “Far As We Felt Like Goin'” and the Technicolor funk of “Morning Much Better.” The powerful vocal ensemble also bolstered Laura Nyro's heart-wrenching reinterpretation of classic soul balladry on 1971's “It's Gonna Take a Miracle.”